As The Agrim Centre begins to take shape, people are beginning to sit up and take notice and this is clearly a positive step forward for the Ag Society as they continue to work towards raising funds to see the building to completion.
Treasurer Shirley Ingram said latest donations for the centre include Suncor who has contributed $25,000 and Rimbey Rodeo Board who gave $30,000.
Individuals are also stepping up to the plate and donating money to purchase square footage.
The building committee is pleased to see the building begin to take shape and corporate and individual donors do their part to make it all come together.
Ingram said services are now in and progress on the building is steady.
To raise more funds, The Rimbey Ag Society is planning a major fundraiser on March 1 featuring Duane Steele in Concert.
The concert is to be held at the Rimbey Community Centre and will include a banquet, silent auction, door prizes and 50/50 draws.
Entertainment will be held from 9 p.m. to midnight with an open dance floor.
Duane Steele is among Canada’s top country recording artists and songwriters with a professional career dating back to 1984.
Music has always been a part of Steele’s life. As a youngster growing up in a small town in Alberta, he remembers everyone singing and playing instruments at parties in his parent’s home.
As an adult, Steele’s rich, mellow voice and friendly personality help set the stage for his road to stardom. His professional career began, fronting the band Rock “n” Horse. Despite a Juno nomination for Country Band of the Year, the band disbanded in 1993.
Steele, however, continued to climb the ladder of success in the music industry and in 1995 a showcase at Canadian Country Music Week in Calgary resulted in his signing a recording contract with Mercury Canada.
His single Anita Got Married made it to Number 1 in the country charts and two other singles were in the Top 5. Before long his songs became familiar favorites for country music fans everywhere.
He and his CCMA award-winning band opened for such well known names as Shania Twain, Terri Clark and Trisha Yearwood.
His 2006 release, Ghost Town, which he co-produced with recording artist, songwriter and producer Steve Fox is 100 per cent Canadian as is his Gas and Time album which came out a couple of years ago. A new album, Dirt and Dreams, is still in the works and will be released sometime this spring.
Steele said he is looking forward to coming back to Rimbey to perform.
“It will be good to come back and help to raise money for the new facility. It’s a good endeavor. I will be bringing my full band and we are all looking forward to it.”
Steele’s CDs Gas and Time will be available at the concert as well as the CD, Set List, which includes a selection of his songs over the last 15 years.
Tickets for the concert are available at Stationery Stories & Sound, T&S Feeds, Crop Production Services, and Midwest Propane for $60 in advance, or $40 at the door for just the concert and the dance.
For further information or to donate auction items, contact Tim Edge 403-354-6730, check the website www.agrim.ca or search Rimbey Agriculture Society on Facebook.